Why is the fanbase so obsessed with Riven?

Subject: Why is the fanbase so obsessed with Riven? Thu Nov 26, 2015 4:43 am

Needless to say, Riven was/is one of the most popular guys in the show. I don't understand why. Sure, he was always entertaining, but in an annoying, I-just-wanna-slap-you kind of way. He was constantly rude, constantly cranky, and a constant headache for Sky, Musa, or the whole group.

Yet the fanbase seems to have a Riven fetish. They think he's sooooo darn hot. Sigh. facepalm

I've seen more risqué fan art of him than any other guy (and much more than I care to see).

Is this just the "bad boy" effect? What do people see in him?

RP Moderator Posts : 9973

To me, its between the fact that he was labeled as a bad boy and the fact that he had a more interesting back story with his mom just missing that they left unanswered. So kind of the brooding bit would be added in too. I wouldn't call him constantly rude because he did have his moments of being nice, only to get Musa acting rude to him. There are probably other facts involved too.

Subject: Re: Why is the fanbase so obsessed with Riven? Thu Nov 26, 2015 1:49 pm

zerowing21 wrote:: To me, its between the fact that he was labeled as a bad boy and the fact that he had a more interesting back story with his mom just missing that they left unanswered. So kind of the brooding bit would be added in too. I wouldn't call him constantly rude because he did have his moments of being nice, only to get Musa acting rude to him. There are probably other facts involved too.

More specifically, Rainbow calls him a "rebel," and the shoe fits. A "bad boy" can still be a good guy, but Riven was just unbearable sometimes. In one of the official translations of the comics, Brandon called him cantankerous: "bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative" or "difficult or irritating to deal with." (I'm pretty sure it wasn't a fan translation because that's a 50-cent word.)

Anyway...

Yes, besides Sky, he was the most fleshed-out guy in the group. But that doesn't change how annoying he was. I feel like the fanbase felt sorry for him and let him get away with anything.

And yes, he had some good moments, but they were rare. 90 percent of the time, he was rude, not just to Musa but everyone. And it sounds like you're subtly blaming her for some of his behavior. Often when she'd get angry at him, he'd already done something to deserve it.

RP Moderator Posts : 9973

Oh I'm not blaming Musa for any of his behavior except the one where he decided to leave to get stronger near season 6's end since he couldn't protect her. She was just as bad as he was during season 4 when their relationship was at its worst. Cuz during season 4, he was looking out for her and doing something good, and she'd rip him a new one. Riven was trying to make things work too from what I remember. He at least improved up to season 4, where they kind of reversed Roles and what not. So Riven had his good moments, but they kind of just weight the same as his bad.

I've never particularly liked him much. He seems overrated to me.

Minako wrote:: I've never particularly liked him much. He seems overrated to me.

I agree. I see all this perverted fanart of him and people going on about how "sexy" he is, and it creeps me out a little. I didn't think he was attractive at all, appearance-wise and definitely not personality-wise. What's even scarier to me is after watching Winx Club, some girls actually wanna date guys like him! Surprised

Last edited by Minako on Sat Nov 28, 2015 4:47 pm; edited 1 time in total

That really does sound scary

It honestly annoys me when a character leaves / dies the fandom suddenly become extremely crazy about them. I mean look at Nabu (I think you made a thread about him too).

Plus, there are better males in Winx!

Subject: Re: Why is the fanbase so obsessed with Riven? Sat Nov 28, 2015 1:18 pm

Minako wrote:: It honestly annoys me when a character leaves / dies the fandom suddenly become bat s*** crazy about them. I mean look at Nabu (I think you made a thread about him too).

Plus, there are better males in Winx!

Yeah, I agree. At least Nabu kinda deserves it. Riven? No. Don't let the door hit you on the way out!

It's not a bad thing to miss a character, but the fanbase has become almost addicted to Nabu. Like I said in that thread, he's been gone now for almost seven years in real life. It'd be one thing if everyone was still this crazy about him one or two years later. But almost a decade? =/

What annoys me more is the fans have also started to rage against Aisha for moving on with her life. As far as they're concerned, she's not allowed to have another boyfriend. She was supposed to stay single for the rest of her life — not in an "independent woman" sense, but waiting (forever) for him to come back and refusing to accept any other guy. Because she didn't do that, some fans think she never really loved him! =/

Yep, she didn't love him. She bawled her eyes out and flew into a vengeful rage when he died, but that was just for drama. It didn't mean anything. facepalm

They've also started calling her a..."lady of the night" (for lack of a better term). That has to do with the love triangle and — in their minds — her working two guys at once and seemingly dumping one for the other. But it's also because she moved on from Nabu so fast.

It's a mess. Honestly, the fanbase needs to get over him and let the girl get on with her life. I'm sick of seeing tribute videos, couple fanart, screenshots, and resurrection fanfics this late in the game. And I'm not the only one.

RP Moderator Posts : 9973

Prattler, the word you censored isn't allowed to be used on the forum even if you self censor, please find a substitute word. Please check the biw dictionary for words you can and can not use.

Subject: Re: Why is the fanbase so obsessed with Riven? Sat Nov 28, 2015 3:57 pm

zerowing21 wrote:: Prattler, the word you censored isn't allowed to be used on the forum even if you self censor, please find a substitute word. Please check the biw dictionary for words you can and can not use.

Sorry. Obviously, I don't post here often.

» When will the fanbase get over Nabu?
» Nex is Like Riven...
» Musa and Riven
» Riven and Musa
» Are they not putting Riven in season 5 that much?